Coating apparatus



March 15, 1938. w. H. NUTT COATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet March 15, 1938. w H, N TT 2,110,938

COATING APPAR ATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1955 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 80 I WvEA/TU/Q 82 MW K M 34 fiimaz Patented Mar. 15, 1938 2,110,938 COATING APPARATUS William H. Nutt, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 22, 1935, Serial No. 37,363

21 Claims.

My invention relates to coating apparatus, and particularly to that employed for applying an adhesive substance 'to the opposed surfaces of the heel-seat of a shoe and to the cup of a heel which is to be secured to the shoe.

In the attachment of heels, especially those of wood, it is customary to coat with glue or other adhesive at least a portion of the contacting attaching surfaces, leaving at the margin of both the heel-seat and heel a narrow uncoated area to guard against the forcing out of the adhesive, with the consequent defacing of the work. It is an object of my invention to apply to such a surface as the heel-seat of a shoe or the con-' tacting portion of its heel, a coating ample in thickness and confined, within a predetermined area, this being effected by simple means which may be'operated rapidly by one littleskilled. For the attainment of this end, I combine with an applying member having a peripheral contour generally corresponding to that of the surface to be coated, as the heel-seat of a shoe or the cup/of a heel to be attached thereto, means for guarding the work-piece outside the area operated upon. This protecting means may be in the form ofa shield similar in contour to the applying member, which shield is preferably furnished by a support for the work. 'I'he coatingsubstance being supplied to the applying member, as by taking it from a receptacle, it is only necessary to bring said applying member and the work together, as by relativ movement between the member and the support, to impress the coat ing upon the desired limited area. Both the applying membervand the support are herein disclosed as having opposite arms and may be considered to be of horseshoe-shape. Since the contour of the surface to be coated will vary for shoes and heels of different sizes and styles, the

.40 apparatus is so arranged that it may be adapted to a considerable range of work-forms. For this purpose, the applying member and support may each be variable in shape, the arms being movable toward and from each other.

arms may be yieldable by virtue of their resilience, so they are self-adjusting and conform to a work-piece introduced between them, while the arms of the applying member are movable, as upon a pivot, and have means whereby the operator may produce this movement and fix the arms in their adjusted positions. In one embodiment of my invention, the applying movement which brings together the coating-applying surface and the surface to be coated is shared in by the work-support and the applying member, there The support being connections between the members which cause the movement of one to be communicated to the other. In this way, by the application of a workpiece to the support with continued pressure upon it, and without further effort on the part 5 of the operator, said support and applying member may be caused to approacheach other, the applying member being lifted from the adhesive contained in the receptacle, while the work descends to meet it. By producing the movement 10 of the applying member and the work at diiferent rates, there is insured proper elevation of said applying member above the surface of the adhesive to receive contact of the work.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two em- 15 bodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 showing in broken perspective an apparatus for coating the cups of shoe-heels;

Fig. 2, an enlarged transverse section through a heel with its support and co-operating applying 20 member;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section through an apparatus for coating the heel-seats of shoes;

Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 2, taken through the shoe and last of Fig. 3, while Fig; 5 is a top plan view of the applying device, which may be considered as illustrative of the adjusting means for either the heelor the shoecoating apparatus.

In Fig. 1, there appears a receptacle l0 which is 30 cut away at the front to give more convenient access to the interior, but still having a surrounding wall of suflicient height to retain a body of glue or other coating-substance of substantial depth. A cover may be provided to prevent 35 evaporation of the contents when the apparatus is not in active use. Rising from the bottom of the receptacle is a guide member in the form of a standard l2. Splined to reciprocate vertically upon the standard along a fixed vertical path, 40 while held against turning about it, are upper and lower carrier-slides I4 and I6, respectively. Depending from the carrier I4 is a bracket l8 having an angular end extending forwardly. To this end is secured, by a set-screw 20 for adjust- 45 ment from front to rear of the receptacle, a sleeve 22 fast upon the rear of .a heel-support 24. This support consists of an approximately vertical band of horseshoe-shape; that is, having opposite curved arms closed or joined at one end and open or spaced at the other, and generally corresponding in peripheral contour to the smallest heel which is to be operatedupon. The band is of resilient material so, as the heel-seat end of a heel H is pressed between its arms, it will accommodate itself to different transverse dimensions. Extending inwardly from the bottom of the band is a narrow curved flange 26 which lies marginal portion of the heel-cup from the coatlug-substance. The flange, because of its curvature and the thinness of its edge, closely contacts with the covering of a heel to prevent outward passage of the applied coating-substance.

The carrier-slide I6 has a downward exten- Y sion 28, and this is provided with a forwardly projecting portion 36. Near the forward end of this portion is a vertical pivot 32 (Figs. 2 and 5) for opposite arms 34, 34 joined to separated portions of an applying device A. These arms together present the horseshoe-contour of the periphery of the heel and its support, the pivot being at the closed end of the horseshoe. Each arm is of such transverse dimensions as to lie beneath a considerable width of the marginal portion of a heel, this width being at least as great as that of the area to be coated. Each arm is channeled to receive the applying member proper, this extending over the pivot 32 and consisting of a curved strip 36 of some such flexible absorbent material as felt or sponge rubber, adapted to carry a relatively heavy charge of the coating-substance. The strip 36 may be secured to the arms 34 by insertion in undercut grooves. The length of the arms is such to insure the application of the coating to the largest heel, and the arms of the support 24 are of corresponding length.

To allow the applying arms 34 to be fixed in positions corresponding to the contour of the margin of a particular heel being operated upon, each arm has a rearward extension 38 projecting beyond the pivot 32 and which is joined by a link 48 to one extremity of a crank-bar 42 fast .upon the lower end of a spindle 44 rotatable in the carriers l4 and I6 at the front of the standard l2. As the spindle is turned by a fingerpiece 46 situated above the top of the receptacle III, the connections between said spindle and the arms 34 will move these about their pivot 32 toward and from each other, thus arranging the flexible material 36 to correspond to a smaller or a larger heel. The adjustment of the arms may be retained by a spring-latch 48 shown as secured to the carrier l6 and engaging teeth upon the periphery of a collar 50 fast upon the spindle 44.

The applying device A and the heel-support 24 are held normally separated by a helical spring 52, surrounding the standard l2 and exerting its expansive force oppositely upon the carriers l4 and I6, with which its ends contact. This urges the applying device to the bottom of the receptacle and elevates the heel-support safely above the surface of the contained coating-substance. To produce an opposite movement of approach of these elements to cause the application of the coating to a heel upon the support, connections are provided between the carriers. The standard l2 has at its top a rearwardly extending arm 54, to a depending portion of which is fulcrumed a lever 56. The inner arm of this lever is preferably shorter than the other and is joined to a rearward extension 58 from the carrier l4 by a link 60. The longer arm of the lever is connected by a link 62 to an extension 64 from the carrier l6.

In using this apparatus, with the receptacle l0 supplied with the adhesive being employed to sufiicient depth to cover the applying member 36, the arms 34, 34 may be adjusted laterally by turning the spindle 44 to correspond to the contour of the type and size of heel to be operated upon. This, since the finger-piece is clear of the receptacle and the contained adhesive, may be done readily at any time, either in making an initial adjustment or to correct a faulty setting. The relation thus attained is held by'the latch 48. Taking a heel H, the operator inserts it within the band 24 of the support, pressing it down with the extreme outer margin of the heelcup seated upon the flange 26. The band yields, conforming to the heel, and the flange determines the vertical position of said heel in the support as it bears against the marginal surface. Upon continued downward pressure, the slide l4 carrying the support is lowered upon the standard I2 against the force of the spring 52. As soon as this descent of the slide l4 begins, its link 68 swings the lever 56 clockwise (Fig. 1). This, in turn, lifts the link 62 and therefore the slide I6 with the applying device A, this movement being resisted by the spring 52. On account of the greater length of the lever-arm joined to the link 62, the applying device, with its adhesive-bearing member 36, ascends more rapidly from the adhesive contained in the receptacle than the support and heel descend. Consequently, the member 36 charged with the adhesive and the margin of the heel-cup meet at a level which may be such that the heel remains safely clear of the adhesive. As the member 36 overlaps the flange 26 of the hollow support and comes into contact with the heel, a full width of coating of the desired area is assured, yet the outer margin about the periphery of the heelcup is shielded by the flange and is left uncoated, with a sharp line of demarcation between it and the coated margin. The band 24, in ad.- dition to locating the heel laterally, guards the heel-covering against adhesive which might be splashed upon it or squeezed out from the member 36. When the operator feels the resistance offered to the heel by the rising applying device, he knows that the coating operation has been completed. The heel is therefore withdrawn from the support, the spring 52 upon the removal of pressure simultaneously returning both carriers to their initial positions. The apparatus is ready for the succeeding operation.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a form of my invention arranged for the coating of the heel-seat margin of a shoe to which a heel is to be attached. The receptacle 10 of this apparatus may be as in the apparatus already described, though lugs 12 are shown for securing it to a bench. Across the receptacle extends a bar 14, attached by the slotand-screw connections 16 to permit it to be adjusted horizontally from front to rear of the tank. At its center is fastened by screws 18 a resilient heel-supportingband 86, which generally resembles the heel-support 24, except that its body is transversely curved upwardly and outwardly to conform to the counter-portion of a shoe-upper S and to facilitate the introduction of such work. Further, its flange 82 is preferably inclined downwardly somewhat from the horizontal, this also being to correspond to the form of the upper. Upon the back of the receptacle are vertical ways 84 in which moves a carrier-slide 86, having a portion 88 extending over the rear wall of the receptacle downwardly and then horizontally at 96 toward the front of the tank. The horizontal carrier-portion 99 corresponds to that designated as 30 in the heel-coating apparatus. It has at its forward extremity a vertical pivot 9| for the arms of the applying device A, which may be similar in all essential particulars to that already described. The adjusting spindle 44 of this applying device is here rotatable in brackets 92 upon the carrier-portion 88. 7

To produce the application of the coating-substance by the device A to the heel-seat of a shoe S placed by the operator upon the support 80, 82, the carrier-slide 86 is joined by a link 94 to a treadle .96, the foot-pad of which is held normally raised by a spring 98. This, at the same time, lowers the carrier and the applying device A to hold the latter normally submerged in the contents of the receptacle H1. Upon depression of the treadle, the absorbent member of the applying device is elevated and pressed against the heel-scat of the shoe upon the support, the application of the adhesive being shown in Fig. 4 as confined to a marginal band upon the lastedover portion of the upper-material. The adjustment of the applying device for diiTerent kinds of work and the protecting action of the support are as previously described.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for coating an attaching surface by which a heel and the heel-seat of a shoe are to be joined, an applying member adapted to be pressed against the work-piece to be coated and having a peripheral contour similar to that of the attaching surface of said workpiece, and a shield extending about and protecting the sides of the work-piece operated upon and having an attaching surface margin protecting portion with an inside peripheral contour similar to that of the applying member.

2. In a cementing apparatus for heels or the like, a horseshoe-shaped device for applying a marginal band of cement to the attaching surface of the heel, and a horseshoe-shaped work-support having a flange for protecting the outer margin of the work from the application of cement and an upstanding band surrounding the curved sides of the heel.

3. In a cementing apparatus, a horseshoeshaped device for applying cement in a marginal band, means for moving said device in a fixed path, and work-supporting means to hold the work in said path, said supporting means being constructed and arranged to protect the outer margin of the work from contact with the applying device and having a work-surrounding portion to locate it in said-path.

4. In a coating apparatus, a horseshoe-shaped,

resilient support provided with an inwardly extending flange whereby the outer margin of a piece of work positioned in the support will be protected by the flange from the application of the coating-substance thereto and the work held against movement through the support.

5. In a cementing apparatus, a cement-receptacle, a work-support mounted upon the receptacle and comprising opposite arms yieldable" upon the application of the work, an applying member receiving cement from the receptacle, and means for producing relativemovement between the applying member and the work-support to coat the work positionedby the arms without changing the relation of said arms to the work,

6. In a cementing apparatus, a cement-receptacle, a work-support mounted upon the receptacle and having opposite arms yieldable upon the application of the work and each provided with a portion extending beneath the work and a portion extending along the outer edge thereof, an applying member receiving cement from the receptacle, and means for producing relative movement between the applying member and the work-support to coat the work positioned by the arms.

7. In a cementing apparatus, a cement-receptacle, a work-support mounted upon the receptacle and having opposite arms yieldable upon the application of the work, an applying member having arms movable toward and from each other and receiving cement from the receptacle, means arranged to fix the applying arms into different positions, and means for producing relative movement between the applying member and the work-support to coat the work positioned by the arms.

8. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating-substance, a'carrier movable in the receptacle, opposite coating-applying arms pivoted upon the carrier, and an adjusting member connected to the arms and extending upwardly therefrom through the receptacle, said adjusting member being movable upon the carrier.

9. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating-substance, a carrier movable in the receptacle, opposite coating-applying arms pivoted upon the carrier, an adjusting member connected to the arms and extending upwardly therefrom through the receptacle, said adjusting member being movable upon the carrier, and a latch for variably fixing the position of the adjusting member upon the carrier.

10. In a coating apparatus, a receptacle for a coating-substance, a slide movable upon the receptacle, a coating-applying member variable in position upon theslide, a spindle rotatable upon the slide, and connections to the spindle to move the applying member.

11. In a cementing apparatus, a horseshoeshaped cement-applying device comprising a plurality of arms pivoted together at the closed end of the device, an applying pad on said arms, means for supplying cement for said arms, and means connected to said arms and extending beyond said pivotal connection for adjusting the position of said arms and the shape of said pad.

12. In' a cementing apparatus, a horseshoeshaped device comprising supporting members pivoted to each other adjacent to the closed end of the device, a horseshoe-shaped flexible cement-applying member positioned upon the supporting members, arms on said members extending beyond said pivot point, and adjusting means connected to said arms.

13. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, a carrier guided for movement into and out of said receptacle, an adjustable cement-applying device positioned upon the carrier, and a manuallyoperated member positioned above the cement in the receptacle for adjusting the shape of the applying device.

14. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, a slidable carrier arranged for reciprocation in the receptacle, an adjustable curved cement-applying member, plural supports for said member separately joined thereto and movable upon the slidable carrier, and manually-actuated means connected to said supports and extending above the receptacle by which the shape of the applying member may be adjusted.

15. In a cementing apparatus, a slide, curved supports pivotally attached to said slide, a curved applying member mounted upon the supports, and a member rotatable upon the slide and connected to one of the supports whereby the shape of the applying member may be varied.

16. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, slides in the receptacle comprising a work-support and a variable applying device, meansi'or interconnecting the slides whereby the actuation of one causes movement of the other to bring together the applying device and a piece 01. work on the support, and means movable with the slides for varying the shape of the applying device.

17. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, a guide' member therein, two superposed slides movable on the same guide member, a work-sup port mounted on one slide, a cement-applying member mounted upon the other slide, means interposed between the slides for holding them normally separated, and connections between the slides by which movement of one is transmitted to the other.

18. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, a guide member therein, two slides movable on the same guide member, means for preventing rotation oi the slides on the guide member, a worksupport mounted on one slide, a cement-applying member mounted upon the other slide, connections between the slides by which the movement of one is transmitted to the other, a spring normally separating the slides, and a lever tulcrumed upon the guide member and linked to both slides.

19. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, a guide member therein, two slides movable on the guide member, a work-support mounted on one 5 slide, a cement-applying member mounted upon t e other slide, a spring surrounding the guide member and normally separating the slides, and a lever fulcrumed upon the guide member and having arms of different lengths linked to the respective slides. v 20. In a cementing apparatus, a receptacle, a guide member therein, two slides movable on the guide member, a work-support mounted on one slide, a cement-applying member having arms pivoted upon the other slide, a spindle rotatable in the slides and joined to the arms to vary their positions, means for holding the slides normally. separated, and connections between the slides by which the movement of one is transmitted to 20 the other.

21. In an apparatus for coating an attaching surface 01' a shoe heel, a receptacle, means underlying the side edges of the heel to support it in inverted position above the receptacle, a horseshoe-shaped applying means in the receptacle adapted to be moved into contact with said attaching surface of the heel to coat it, and means for adjusting one of said heel-contacting means to accommodate heels of different sizes, said adjusting means comprising pivotally interconnected supporting arms. 

